公开演讲实战攻略

    一位知名电视新闻记者曾经告诉我，每个人都会感到紧张。那么就主动采取行动驾驭自己的情绪。控制紧张心绪，并将其转化成为正面积极的能量。此外，我要强调一点，想象听众们穿着内衣这种方法可不管用。

    以下是我避免怯场的若干步骤：

1、大声练习，反复练习。我知道你肯定会说根本排不出时间进行练习。但其实很简单，大声说出口是能让你平静下来的最佳方法。走进房间关上门，站好，充满激情地开始练习演讲。如果多练习几遍，这些信息就会成为你头脑中自然而然的东西。这样你就不会因为对演讲内容不熟悉而感到紧张了。

2、开场白要精彩，要能镇得住场面。无论是一个故事、一段视频、还是一个出人意料的论据，只要你确定自己的开场白很精彩，能打动听众，都会提升你的自信心。而且，你也不必死记硬背演讲稿，因为如果忘词的话会非常麻烦，但记住开场白至关重要。我要再次强调，这种确信的感觉会提升人的自信。

3、呼吸。我习惯进行下面的呼吸练习：吸气，数到五。呼气，数到十。重复15次就会对你有镇静的效果。在演讲开始之前去健身房运动一会儿也能达到同样的效果。

4、想象。可以像职业运动员那样，上台前在自己的脑子里放一个小电影，想想自己成功地完成了演讲任务。如果是要在美国职业篮球赛（NBA）决赛现场罚球，投篮之前则可以先在头脑中预演一遍投出空心球的画面。如果是会议主持人即将介绍你上台演讲，可以闭上眼睛几分钟，想象自己充满自信地大步迈上演讲台，发表了一场精彩的演说。在某种意义上，你一旦这么做了，你就已经“见识过了”，由此，对未知的恐惧就被尽可能地减小了。

5、听众喜欢你，听众真心喜欢你。记住，在大多数情况下，观众是希望你演讲成功的。看着别人在演讲台上陷入窘境是很无趣也很尴尬的事情。因此要主动想象听众是真心希望你能给他们带来欢乐和教益，要从这种认知中汲取力量。如果碰巧发现有听众在打呵欠、翻白眼，或者发短信，请无视他们。要跟那些冲你微笑或点头同意的听众进行眼神交汇。很快你就会信心百倍。

    少数性格外向的幸运儿并不存在这方面的问题。但对大多数人来说，就像正确握持高尔夫球九号铁杆那样，成功应对怯场是一种后天习得的技能。对于成功的职业生涯来说，公开演讲是非常重要的一部分，值得下功夫去练习。

    译者：李玫晓/汪皓

    A well-known TV newsman once told me that everyone gets the butterflies. So show them how to fly in formation. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into positive energy. And no, imagining the audience in their underwear doesn't work.

    Here are the steps I take to avoid getting weak-kneed:

1. Practice out loud. Repeatedly. Yes, I can hear you saying it's impossible to find time in your schedule to do this, but simple out-loud practice is the best way to calm your nerves. Go into a room and shut the door. Stand and deliver the presentation with passion. If you do this several times, the information will become second nature to you, and you won't suffer from the anxiety that comes with not being quite sure where you're headed.

2. Have them at hello with a powerful opening. If you've got a great opening that you know will move your audience -- a story, a visual, an unexpected prop -- it will boost your self-confidence. Also, you don't want to memorize the rest of your presentation -- that can be problematic if you lose your place -- but memorizing the opening is important. Again, the feeling of certainty will boost your confidence.

3. Breathe. I make a habit of the following breathing exercise: Inhale to a count of five. Exhale to a count of 10. Do 15 reps of this and it will have a calming effect. Going to the gym before your presentation works the same way.

4. Visualize. Do as pro athletes do. Play a little movie in your brain of yourself succeeding at the task you're about to perform. If you're at the foul line in the NBA finals, you would envision the ball going nothing-but-net before you take the shot. If you're about to be introduced before your speech at a conference, close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself striding onto the stage with confidence and delivering a performance that makes you and your agenda look good. In a sense, you've "already been there" once you do this, and thus the fear of the unknown is minimized.

5. They like you. They really like you. Remember that, in most situations, the audience wants you to succeed. It's boring and awkward to watch someone dying up there on the stage, so draw strength from the knowledge that the audience is genuinely hoping that you'll entertain and inform. And if you happen to spot audience members who are yawning, rolling their eyes, or texting, to heck with 'em. Make eye contact with someone who's smiling or nodding her head in agreement. Instant confidence booster.

    A few lucky extroverts out there don't have a problem with this. But for most of us, successfully dealing with stage fright is a learned skill, like correctly holding a nine-iron. And since public speaking is such a big part of career success, it's worth your while to slay the demon properly.